MEDIA RELEASE
Monday 30 September 2013
Electoral Commission
Te Kaitiaki Take Kōwhiri
ELECTORAL COMMISSION PREPARING FOR CHRISTCHURCH EAST BY-ELECTION

The Electoral Commission is gearing up for a by-election in the Christchurch East electorate on Saturday 30 November 2013.

“This by-election is to select a new local Member of Parliament for the Christchurch East electorate,” says Chief Electoral Officer Robert Peden. “In a by-election, people have only one vote - for their electorate MP. There is no party vote.”

The Electoral Commission expects to provide around 25 polling places across the Christchurch East electorate, which covers the eastern suburbs of Christchurch city from the Avon-Heathcote estuary north to the Waimakariri River.

“It is important to remember that only those who are enrolled in the Christchurch East electorate are entitled to vote in the by-election,” says Mr Peden.

Voters who are outside the Christchurch East electorate temporarily (for example, while their house is being repaired) can stay enrolled in Christchurch East and will be eligible to vote in the by-election.

If people know they will not be returning to their previous home and have lived outside the electorate for more than one month, they need to re-enrol at their new address.
“If you’re not sure about which address you should enrol with, please contact us on 0800 36 76 56,” says Mr Peden.

Voting places will only be available inside the electorate on election day. Voters unable to vote at a voting place in the Christchurch East electorate on Saturday 30 November will be able to vote at an advance voting place before election day, and postal voting may be available for those unable to get to a voting place.

Advance voting and voting from overseas will start on Wednesday 13 November 2013.

Information about where and when to vote will be available from www.elections.org.nz from Tuesday 5 November.

“We will be working in the community to ensure voters enrolled in the Christchurch East electorate know that the by-election is on, how to make sure they are enrolled, and where and when to vote,” says Mr Peden.

“The by-election will run under the electoral boundaries used in the 2011 general election.”

Enrolling is quick and easy. Freetext your name and address to 3676, go to www.elections.org.nz, visit any PostShop or call 0800 36 76 56. People can also check and update their details at www.elections.org.nz.

More information about enrolling and voting is available from www.elections.org.nz.

ENDS

A timeline for the Christchurch East by-election is set out below.

30 NOVEMBER CHRISTCHURCH EAST BY-ELECTION TIMETABLE

Monday 30 Sept Christchurch East electorate by-election date announced

Wednesday 30 Oct Writ Day
Governor General issues direction to the Electoral Commission to hold the Christchurch East by-election.
Electoral Rolls closed for printing.
Voters enrolled after this date cast a special declaration vote.

Thursday 31 Oct Nominations open for candidates in the Christchurch East by-election

Tuesday 5 Nov Nominations close for candidates in the Christchurch East by-
Noon Deadline election

Tuesday 5 Nov Christchurch East by-election candidates announced by the
4.00pm target Electoral Commission.
Voting Place and Advance Voting Place details available at www.elections.org.nz or by calling 0800 36 76 56
Ballot Paper printing starts.

Wednesday 13 Nov Advance Voting starts

Wednesday 13 Nov Overseas voting starts

Saturday 23 Nov Delivery of EasyVote packs to those enrolled in the Christchurch East electorate

Friday 29 Nov Enrolments close

Friday 29 Nov All political advertising ceases and election signs taken down by midnight

Saturday 30 Nov Christchurch East By-election held

Polling places open from 9.00am to 7.00pm

Saturday 30 Nov Preliminary Results progressively available from 7pm
on www.electionresults.govt.nz. Targets for release are:
- by 7.30pm all advance vote results
- by 9.00pm results from 50% of voting places
- by 10.00pm results from 100% of voting places.
These are targets not guarantees.

Wednesday 11 Dec Official Results declared (including special declaration and
noon target overseas votes)

Monday 16 Dec Deadline for applications for judicial recount.

Thursday 19 Dec Last day for Return of Writ by Electoral Commission naming successful candidate (presuming no recount)

Friday 1 Apr 2014 Deadline for Returns of Candidate Election Expenses and Donations to Electoral Commission

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